The program is built around claims of Russian aggression, and the idea that global warming will lead Russia to stake out new claims in the far north, near where old Soviet-era bases exist, for natural resources.

Britain has no natural claims this far north, but that isn’t stopping them from throwing troops at the region with an eye on clashing with Russia, and officials say it is vital to “demonstrate we’re there” in the Arctic Circle.

There has long been speculation of a rush to claim resources in the north, but NATO nations have been sending more and more troops to every Russian frontier area for years now, always nominally to counter “aggression” that exists purely as a talking point to justify more military spending.